Gorges State Park to be featured on UNC-TV series

FILE - Phyliss Vanderzyl, from Alabama, takes a photo of the escarpment at the new visitor center at Gorges State Park.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

Special to the Times-News

Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:02 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:02 a.m.

Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will be featured in part one of a three-part series on North Carolina state parks produced by UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication students.

The series will air Dec. 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. on UNC-TV's "North Carolina Now." The reports look at environmental issues facing Gorges State Park in the mountains, Eno River State Park in Orange and Durham counties and Fort Macon State Park on Bogue Banks near Morehead City.

The series was written and produced by students in the school's Medical and Science Journalism Program as part of professor Tom Linden's "Science Documentary Television" course.

"This series focuses on three of our state's natural and historical treasures," said Linden, who narrated the reports and served as executive producer.

UNC-TV videographers Mike Oniffrey and Pete Bell shot the series, along with additional videography supplied by the students and Patrick McMillan, a Clemson University biology professor.

Jonathan Howes, former secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and former chair of the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority, assisted the class with the project. Lewis Ledford, director of N.C. State Parks and Recreation, provided additional support.

Gorges State Park

The first part of the series examines how a temperate rain forest in Gorges State Park supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the eastern United States.

Patrick Mustain, a master's student in the Medical and Science Journalism Program, produced the piece with help from Dane Emmerling, a master's student in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Jeanne-Marie DeStefano, a master's student in the journalism school, wrote the script.

Eno River State Park

The second report tells the story of an exotic plant from Asia that threatens to upset the natural ecosystem in the Eno River.

Justin Ridge, a doctoral student in marine sciences, produced the piece. Jesse Abdenour, a doctoral student in the journalism school, wrote the script.

Fort Macon State Park

The final report traces the long battle to save Fort Macon from the ocean's relentless onslaught.

<p>Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will be featured in part one of a three-part series on North Carolina state parks produced by UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication students. </p><p>The series will air Dec. 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. on UNC-TV's "North Carolina Now." The reports look at environmental issues facing Gorges State Park in the mountains, Eno River State Park in Orange and Durham counties and Fort Macon State Park on Bogue Banks near Morehead City. </p><p>The series was written and produced by students in the school's Medical and Science Journalism Program as part of professor Tom Linden's "Science Documentary Television" course. </p><p>"This series focuses on three of our state's natural and historical treasures," said Linden, who narrated the reports and served as executive producer. </p><p>UNC-TV videographers Mike Oniffrey and Pete Bell shot the series, along with additional videography supplied by the students and Patrick McMillan, a Clemson University biology professor. </p><p>Jonathan Howes, former secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and former chair of the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority, assisted the class with the project. Lewis Ledford, director of N.C. State Parks and Recreation, provided additional support.</p><p><b>Gorges State Park</b.</p><p>The first part of the series examines how a temperate rain forest in Gorges State Park supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the eastern United States. </p><p>Patrick Mustain, a master's student in the Medical and Science Journalism Program, produced the piece with help from Dane Emmerling, a master's student in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Jeanne-Marie DeStefano, a master's student in the journalism school, wrote the script.</p><p><b>Eno River State Park</b></p><p>The second report tells the story of an exotic plant from Asia that threatens to upset the natural ecosystem in the Eno River. </p><p>Justin Ridge, a doctoral student in marine sciences, produced the piece. Jesse Abdenour, a doctoral student in the journalism school, wrote the script.</p><p><b>Fort Macon State Park</b></p><p>The final report traces the long battle to save Fort Macon from the ocean's relentless onslaught. </p><p>UNC environmental sciences student Ethan Miller produced the piece with help from geology student Siobhan Kenney. Senior journalism student Joseph Chapman wrote the script.</p>